He’s always been very good at expressing to others his joy or dislike for certain activities, whether it be through his words or through his behavior. In fact, when he transitioned from preschool to kindergarten, his teachers and aides all said “Just give Howie a minute to tell you his side. You may not agree with him, but if he feels like you heard him, he’ll be more likely to figure out the solution together.”

This year, the toughest part of the day for Howie is his “Fundations” class. It’s the spelling/language arts lesson. It’s mid-morning, and he moves into a different classroom for the lesson. Howie is in a 1st/2nd grade combined class. For the Fundations lesson, the first graders move next door to work with other first grade kids, and the second grade kids stay in his classroom and are joined by other second graders. I know it sounds complicated, but it works. But for Howie there are several things at play: a different teacher, a different classroom, different kids and a subject that is clearly “non-preferred”. It’s not that he can’t do the work, he just doesn’t like it. From the beginning of school this year, it’s the one real bumpy part of the day. He knows when it’s coming at 9:30 and his behavior and anxiety starts to amp up. Many mornings, he’s had to leave the classroom and do his Fundations lessons in the smaller sub-separate classroom away from his peers.

Which would be fine if that’s what he needed. But what he really wants – and needs – is to be a part of the larger group as much as possible to get the full lesson and work with his peers.

I’ve done a lot of brainstorming with his teachers about it – incentives, plans, etc. None of our ideas seem to stick.

Turns out, the ideas had to come from him.

When Howie returned to school after winter break, he sat down with one of his aides to talk about Fundations. He was perseverating on the fact that it was boring and that he thought he had to say “A – Apple – A” each time (practicing letter sounds). I got a note home that they had created a social story to help him get through the lesson.

“How to Stay in Fundations” by Howie

His teachers sent a copy of it home so I could see it and we could talk about it.

I thought his teachers wrote it and shared it with Howie.

Turns out, Howie wrote this all by himself.

Since writing this social story, Howie has been able to not only sit through the whole Fundations lesson, but be an active participant with his peers.

So at the very moment that I was trying to figure out how to help Howie participate more, he was doing it himself.

Slightly ironic, no?

I know this is just the beginning of this for him. That the more he understands his body and his brain, the more he’ll be the one to express what he needs.

Because it really should come from him, right?

(so grateful to his teachers this year who understand how important this is too)

Baby steps towards self-advocacy for my all star.

“So much to do so much to see So what’s wrong with taking the back streets You’ll never know if you don’t go You’ll never shine if you don’t glow

Hey now you’re an All Star get your game on, go play Hey now you’re a Rock Star get the show on get paid And all that glitters is gold Only shooting stars break the mold” – All Star by Smash Mouth

Oh my God, this is maybe my favorite thing ever. How phenomenal that you and his school have given him the foundation to do this and that he took the ball and ran with it. I think all of you need some super kudos. FANTASTIC.